Floral supporting rack



' Nov. 19, 1935. D, BOYD A 2,021,540

FLORAL SUPPORTING RACK Filed April 23, 1954 N/H /C r /6 I LoLDv'epce D.Bou d I Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNiiTED STATES- PATENT OFFICE FLORAL SUPPORTING RACK Laurence D. Boyd, Cleveland, Ohio Application April 23, 1934, Serial No. 722,005

3 Claims. (Cl. 211-406) This invention relates to display devices and has special reference to a floral display device particularly adapted for the arrangement and display of flowers at funerals and other ceremonial occasions.

One important object of the invention is to provide an improved general construction of display rack capable of being used singly and of being used in groups or combinations.

A second important object of the invention is to provide an improved form of such display rack particularly adapted for use in connection with burial caskets.

A third important object of the invention is to provide a form of wire rack, of improved construction, adapted to be hung from the handles of a burial casket so as to support bouquets, Wreaths or blankets oi flowers as may be desired.

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide display rack units of improved construction so arranged that they may be interlocked.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawing like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved display rack as applied to the handle of a burial casket.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the arrangement shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail showing the manner in which two of such racks may be lineally connected.

Figure 4 is a detail side elevation of the bottom of such a rack in the position assumed when the upper end of the rack is inclined backwardly to rest against a wall or other support.

In the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed there is illustrated a main frame of heavy wire which is formed from a single length of such wire bent to provide a straight bottom portion ID from the ends of which project upwardly parallel frame sides II. The upper ends of these frame sides are offset inwardly toward each other by inclined portions [2 above which the ends are bent rearwardly and downwardly to provide a pair of semi-circular hooks l3 which are covered by cushioning material such as rubber tubing M. It will be seen by reference to Figure 3 that the spacing of the hooks is such that they may engage the bottom member ll? of a second similar rack and thus enable a plurality of such racks to be serially connected. The hook will also be noted to be of proper size to enable them to engage the handle H of a burial 5 casket, a portion of which is shown at C. Cross bars 15 of wire connect the side members at intervals of the length of the rack. Each cross carries a pair of V-shaped hooks I6. Each of these hooks has one side or arm of the V in the plane of the members II while the other side of the arm projects upwardly and forwardly to a point above the cross bar which supports the hook. On the top cross bar there is swingingly mounted a U-shaped hanger loop I! bent intermediate its length as best seen in Figure 2 so that it may engage over a nail N or other like means to support the rack. The bottom member l0 has fixed thereto a foot loop l8 which projects backwardly to lie in a plane forming an obtuse angle with the plane of the sides II. This loop l8 serves to form a foot for supporting the rack when it is desired to support the rack in an inclined position as, for instance, leaning against a wall. Obviously, in order to prevent slipping of the foot of the rack under such conditions a nail or brad B may be inserted through the loop l8 into the floor.

The device has many ways in which it may be used. As typical of some of these ways it may be hooked onto a casket handle and wreaths or other floral pieces may be engaged on the hooks 18. Another Way in which the device may be used is to employ several such racks hung side by side so that a floral blanket may be held by the hooks of the several racks. Other uses will readily suggest themselves.

There has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the form and proportions of the invention without departing from the idea involved. It is not therefore desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described but it is desired to include all such as come within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new, is:

1. A display rack for flowers and including a pair of spaced side members, transverse bars connecting said side members at spaced intervals, upwardly directed hooks carried by said transverse bars, suspension means at the upper end of the rack, rearwardly extending downwardly opening hooks on the upper ends of said side members and means between the side bars providing a rear diagonal brace for one of the cross bars, for contact with a stationary object alongside which the rack extends.

2. A display rack for'flowers and including a pair of spaced side members, transverse bars connecting said side members at spaced intervals, upwardly directed hooks carried by said transverse bars, suspension means at the upper end of said rack, a bottom member connecting the lower ends of the side members, and an element including an offset portion extending rearwardly from one of the cross bars and permitting connection thereof with a stationary object, said offset element cooperating with the suspension means to provide an assembly proportioned to inclose an element of a rack-supporting member.

3. A display rack for flowers and including a pair of spaced side members, transverse bars connecting said side members at spacedintervals, upwardly directed hooks carried by said transverse bars, suspension means at the upper end of the rack, rearwardly extending downwardly opening hooks on the upper ends of the side members, a bottom member connecting the lower ends of the side members and a diagonal brace carried by the upper transverse bar positioned and secured to prevent the release of the suspension means from an object engaged by said means, the latter and the brace cooperating to form an assembly preventing displacement of the rack.

LAURENCE D. BOYD. 

